Automobile bumper



Jan. 9, 1923.

A. L. MCGRE.GOR.`

AUTOMOBILE BuMPER.

R|G|NAL FILED DEC 7.1920

l Reissued Jan. 9, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUTOMOBILE BUMPER.

Original No. 1,361,600, dated December 7, 1920, Serial N0./378,386, led May 3, 1920. Application for reissue'fle'd November 23, 1922.

To a-ZZ who-m 'it may concern.:

Be it known that I,.ALLAN.-L. MCGREGOR,

'a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Automobile Bumpers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in automobile bumpers and more particularly to those devices `which are attached to the frame of a motor vehicle for the purpose of protecting the vehicle from damage in the event of collision with other vehicles or ob stacles.

The object of the present invent-ion is to provide an improved construction having among other features a degree of adjustability which will permit the bumper to be attached to various makes of vehicles having different dimensions between the points or places of attachment, and moreover providing a suitable degree of movementbetween the bumper parts, thereby making the structure more flexible and better capable of withstanding the shocks of impact without being permanently distorted.

The structural features of the bumper' are hereinafter fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a top plan view of the bumper as attached to the vehicle frame members; Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of the bumper; F ig. 3 is an enlarged detail view in horizontal section, taken on line 3, 3 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view in vertical section, taken on line 4, 4 of Fig. 2.

A preferred kstructure for a bumper embodying the features offmy invention comprises in the main an impact-member l extending transversely of the vehicle frame and horizontally at a distance outwardly therefrom, and two connecting members or bars 2, 2 adapted for attachment to the vehicle frame and permanently connected to the ends of the impact member l.

The impact member is inherently flexible, being constructedof two parallel bars 3, 3 of metal bar stock arranged so that they are relatively yieldable in a Ihorizontal direction and relatively nonyieldable in a vertical direction, these bars being spaced apart vertically, the intervening space being sub- Serial No. 602.957.

lstanti-ally equal to the width of each of the bars. The parallel bars 3. 3 are connected together at their ends in the following manner: The ends of each bar are bent or formed to provide circular eyes 4, through whichare inserted relatively long bolts 5, 5. bars 3, 3 are further connected together in spaced relation by means of a clip 6 comprising vertically arranged plates 7 7 which are connected together and clamped in'place by means of a centrally'disposed bolt 8.

The connecting members or bars 2, .2 hereinbefore mentioned, are formed of similar bar stock, preferablybent in curvilinear conformation throughout a rather large arc, so that the end portions of each bar are arranged at an angle of substantially ninety degrees to each other. The inner end ortions of the bars l2, 2 extend parallel to the longitudinal frame members 9, 9 of thevehicle frame and are attached or ixed thereto by means of suitable clamping bolts 10, 10. The outer end portions of the bars 2, 2 extend substantially parallel to the end portions of the impact member l and are connected thereto in the following manner: As shown in Fig. 3, the outer end portion of each barY 2, 2 is provided with an end portion ll formed by bending the end ofthe bar backwardly upon itself and turning the extremity inwardly toward the main portion of the bar to form a hook l2. The portions of the bar, as thus bent, are s aced apart at a uniform distance, thereby orming an elongated slot of the desired length, said slot being closed at its inner end by m'eans of the hook l2 to form an elongated eye. vT he attachment of the outer ends of the bars 2, 2 is accomplished by insertingr the said ends between the bars 3, 3 of the impact member l and passing the bolts 5, 5 through the elongated eyes formed at the ends of the connecting bars as well as the eyes 4 at the ends of the bars 3, 3. The width ot' the slots is sufficient to permit the bolts t0 slide longitudinally thereof with ample freedom.

From the description of the structure, it is manifest that the connecting bars 2, 2 may be adjusted relative 'ro the impact member 1, that is to say.A they maybe moved laterallytowai'd each other or in the opposite direction so that the-ir inner ends may be attached to the vehicle frame members, such The central portions of thel as 9, 9, and at the same time allow for varying dlstances between these' trame members, this variation being taken up at the point of connection of the bars 2, 2 with the `impact member l by the shifting ot' .the bolts 5, 5 within the slots formed in the elongated eyes at the ends ot' said connecting bars-2, 2. Furthermore, if it is not desiredv to move the outer ends of the bars 2 in the direction ot the length of the impact section in order toy accommodate variations in width ot' vehicle framespa considerable adjustment for this purpose can be effected by swinging the bars 2 about the bolts 5 as pivots.

In addition to the adjustable eatiii'e,i\'liich permits the bumper to be attached to various makes ot' vehicle. an added degree of Hexibility is afforded in the structure by reason of the slot-and-bolt connection between the main pai-ts ot' the bumper, it being manifest that when an object strikes against the-impact member the tendency will be for this member to bow inwardly, and likewise the ends to be drawn toward each other,'bring ing about a movement. of the bolts 5, 5 in the slots at the ends of the connecting bars 2, 2. Manit'estly this movement is free until the bolt engages the hooked end 12 at the inner extremity of the slot, whereupon the bars 2, 2 themselves would absorb the remaining force of the shock by being bent toward a straight line position.

The features of my invention are hereinafter more fully disclosed in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. In an automobile bumper, the combination of an impact member, comprising bars spaced apart vertically and rigidly connected at their:A ends, and attaching bars adapted to be connectedat one of their ends to the vehicle frame members, and provided at their other ends with slotted extremities adapted to adjustably engage the ends ot' said impact member.

2. In an automobile bumper, the combinat-ion of an impact member con'iprising parallel bars spaced apart vertically and provided with eyes at their ends, and bolts extendingI through said eyes, and bars 'connect-ed at one of their ends to a `vehicle frame. and bent at their outer ends to provide slots engaging the portions of said bolts intermediate the bars ot the impact member.

3. In an automobile bumper, the combination of an impact member comprising paral- ,lel bars spaced apart and boltsconnec'ting said bars at their ends, bars connecting the ends ot said impact member with a vehicle trame, and provided with outer end portions extending parallel with said impact member -and bent double tolj'irovide slots engaging said bolts intermediate the bars of said impact/member.

of said impact member, said-slotted end portions being located between Vthe bars ot said impact member. the bolts thereof passing through the slots. j

5. In a vehicl` bumper. the combination ot' an impact member comprising bars spaced apart vertically and connected at their ends, and attaching bars-each adapted to be connected at one of its ends to a vehicle frame member and pivotally connected at its opposite end to the adjacent end ot the impact member. i 6. In an automobile bumper. the combination of' an impact member comprising bars spaced apart vertically and connected at their ends, and attaching bars each adapted to be connected at one of its ends to a vehicle "frame member and pivotally connected at its other end to and between 1Bhe adjacent ends of the first mentioned ars.

7. In an automobile bumper, the combination ot an impact member comprisingr bars spaced apart vertically and provided with veyes at their ends, bolts extending through the alignedeyes of said bars, a`n`d Vattaching bars each adapted to be connectedat one of its ends to a vehicle frame member and eac-h having at its opposite or outer end an eye adapted to be positioned between the eyes at the adjacent ends of the first 4mentioned bars and to receive the 'bolt extending through such eyes.

8. In a vehicle bumper, the combination of ank impact member comprising bars spaced apart vertically and connected at their ends, and attaching bars each adapted to be connected at one of its ends to a ve-- hicle frame 'member and movably connected at its opposite end to the adjacent end of the impact member.

9. In an automobile bumper, the combination of anl impact member comprising bars spaced apart vertically and `connected at their ends, and attaching bars each adapted to be connected at one of its ends to a vehicle frame member and movably connected at its other end. to and between the adjacent ends of the first mentioned bar-s.

- l0. Inan automobile bumper, the combination of an impact member comprising bars spaced apart vertically and provided with eyes at their ends, bolts extending through the, aligned eyes of said bars, and attaching bars each adapted to be connected I at one of its ends to a vehicleframe member and each'liaving at its opposite or outer end an elongated eye adapted to be positioned connectin between the eyes, at the adjacent ends of the first mentioned bars and to receive the bolt extending through such eyes.

ll. In an automobile bumper, the combination of an impact `member comprising bars spaced apart vertically and connected at their ends, attaching bars each adapted to ,be Aconnected -atone'end to a vehicle frame member, .and means pivotally connecting the opposite end of each attaching bar to an end of the impact member, such means permitting relative adjustment eacli attachingibar in the direction ofthe length of said member.

12. In an automobile bumper, the combination of an impact member comprising tween the impact member and bars spaced apart vertically and connected at their ends, attaching bars each having an inner end adapted to be connected to a vehicle frame member and its outer portion arranged to extend substantially paralleli' each. attachin' Ybar in the'direetion of the endportion oL such member.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ax my signature.

AALLAN L MCGREGOR. 

